By: Christine Dalkan
We Trinis love a bargain. We love discounts even better, and it seems that from the moment the Yuletide Season rushes in, all the stores are practically tripping over themselves trying to get you to spend your money. There’s no problem when it comes to spending. The key is to spend it wisely so everyone ends up happy, merry and bright. Armed with these easy tips from Christine Dalkan, it’s going to be a piece of cake! H.P.
Do your Homework first.
With all the Christmases gone by and all the seasonal shopping experience you have by now, you may already know of the stores that hold grand Christmas sales. Make a list of them and what they have to offer.
If your shopping experience is not that vast, ask friends and family members for some help in compiling your list. Then look at your Christmas shopping list to get an idea of what you need to buy. A bargain stops being a bargain if you’re just going to buy random things just because they’re cheap. That leads to having a house full of crap you’re never going to use and eventually just throw away.
Compare your Christmas shopping list with your list of stores that offer bargains – where can you get the items you have to get at a discounted price? This way, you’ll end up buying what you set out to buy, and still taking advantage of the deals offered. Sometimes, you may end up getting two-for-one specials, which is great when you have to buy more than one of the same item. You may get a buy-one-get-another-free also.
Be a Wise Shopper
Christmas bargains can mean a great opportunity to save money, or it can mean a retailer getting faulty merchandise off their hands. Check the items carefully – is the item good quality, is it stained, is it flawed? This tip reminds me of an episode of Cosby show when Theo Huxtable got hoodwinked into what he thought was a great deal – he bought boxes of jerseys to resell at a low price, only to realise the jerseys had no openings at the neck. Don’t be like Theo.
Also, if the item is stained, but after examining, you realise you can fix it easily, then by all means, use this as an opportunity to haggle for an even lower price (wink wink).
Timing is Everything!
Early Christmas deals versus deals that happen plump in the middle of the season are not the same. If you’re a bargain shopper, the crowd of shoppers is not going to faze you. So get in there at the last minute, and get your deals girl.
Make a Beeline
When you enter a store, go straight to the clearance and sale sections. If you don’t, you may end up buying things that are not on sale, when there are items in the sale section that are just as good or can substitute.
Shop at Outlets and Factory Stores
Christmas is the time when factory outlets hold grand sales but some shoppers miss these occasions. Pay attention because here is where you get variety and such glorious deals that you wonder if the owners are out of their cotton-picking minds!
Compare
There are certain items such as shoes and perfumes that make beautiful Christmas gifts, and tend to go cheap during this season. However, these so-called bargains can really mean the difference between original brand and generic brands. Because you believe it’s the original brand, the lowered price may lead you to think it’s on sale. But if it’s not original, then what may seem like a lowered price can really be the exactly what the imitation product is worth, and not really a deal after all. Then of course, if you’re purchasing this item as a gift for someone, they may be offended at your ‘cheapness’.
So, all in all, use your "sense" when you're ready to spend those hard earned dollars.
Happy hunting, folks!
